Investigator states former President Buhari should have faced trial over $6.2m fraud

Obazee, a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the ongoing trial of former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele, also stated that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, should be prosecuted for the transaction. Emefiele faces a 20-count charge including conspiracy, abuse of office, and fraud. Obazee presented documents, including a letter purportedly signed by Buhari approving the funds' release and another from the SGF's Office directing the CBN to release the money to Jibril Abubakar for foreign election observers.

However, Mustapha later denied knowledge of the transaction, alleging the documents, including Buhari's, were forged. Obazee maintained that the alleged fraud involved multiple individuals and should not be limited to Emefiele, suggesting posthumous prosecution for Buhari and trial for Mustapha, Abubakar, CBN official Bashirudeen Maishanu, and other involved officials. He noted that the Abuja branch of the CBN failed to conduct due diligence and that Maishanu refunded $856,500 to his investigative panel.

Under cross-examination, Obazee admitted he did not recover money from Emefiele or find evidence of proceeds in Emefiele'